American Green Toad
Bufo debilis
Distribution, Climate & Habitat: south-central USA and northeast Mexico. Found in semi-arid areas
Size: females approach 6 centimetres, males are smaller at around 4 centimetres
Diet: these small toads hunt for insects and other invertebrates on the ground
Appearance:
this small toad has a characteristically flat head and body. The warty upperside
is an olive green, marked with black spots and streaks; the underside is a uniform
whitish colour
Habits: the flattened body shape allows these toads to flatten themselves against the ground when threatened by a predator, the upperpart markings blending with their habitat to provide camoflage. By day they hide under stones and plants to escape the sun, and daytime predators; by night they are most active after heavy rains, which brings out a profusion of small insects, worms, slugs, and other invertebrates for them to hunt
Fascinating Fact:
like most animal species living in near-desert conditions, the American Green
regulates its body temperature by either sitting in the shade (to cool down)
or basking out in the open (to warm up). This behaviour is called thermoregulation,
and it allows the toad to control its body temperature according to where it
rests.